The Old Wives' Tale eBook

“Well, aunties,” he greeted the sisters,
having perceived Constance behind Sophia; he often
so addressed them. “Has Dr. Stirling warned
you that I was coming? Why haven’t you got
your things on?”

Sophia observed a young woman in the car.

“Yes,” said he, following her gaze, “you
may as well look. Come down, miss. Come
down, Lily. You’ve got to go through with
it.” The young woman, delicately confused
and blushing, obeyed. “This is Miss Lily
Holl,” he went on. “I don’t
know whether you would remember her. I don’t
think you do. It’s not often she comes to
the Square. But, of course, she knows you by sight.
Granddaughter of your old neighbour, Alderman Holl!
We are engaged to be married, if you please.”

Constance and Sophia could not decently pour out their
griefs on the top of such news. The betrothed
pair had to come in and be congratulated upon their
entry into the large realms of mutual love. But
the sisters, even in their painful quandary, could
not help noticing what a nice, quiet, ladylike girl
Lily Holl was. Her one fault appeared to be that
she was too quiet. Dick Povey was not the man
to pass time in formalities, and he was soon urging
departure.

“I’m sorry we can’t come,”
said Sophia. “I’ve got to go to Manchester
now. We are in great trouble.”

“Yes, in great trouble,” Constance weakly
echoed.

Dick’s face clouded sympathetically. And
both the affianced began to see that to which the
egotism of their happiness had blinded them.
They felt that long, long years had elapsed since these
ageing ladies had experienced the delights which they
were feeling.

“Trouble? I’m sorry to hear that!”
said Dick.

“Can you tell me the trains to Manchester?”
asked Sophia.

“No,” said Dick, quickly, “But I
can drive you there quicker than any train, if it’s
urgent. Where do you want to go to?”

“There isn’t any ‘but.’
I’m quite free for the afternoon and evening.”

At first the suggestion seemed absurd, especially
to Constance. But really it was too tempting
to be declined. While Sophia made ready for the
journey, Dick and Lily Holl and Constance conversed
in low, solemn tones. The pair were waiting to
be enlightened as to the nature of the trouble; Constance,
however, did not enlighten them. How could Constance
say to them: “Sophia has a husband that
she hasn’t seen for thirty-six years, and he’s
dangerously ill, and they’ve telegraphed for
her to go?” Constance could not. It did
not even occur to Constance to order a cup of tea.

III

Dick Povey kept his word. At a quarter-past five
he drew up in front of No. 49, Deansgate, Manchester.
“There you are!” he said, not without
pride. “Now, we’ll come back in about
a couple of hours or so, just to take your orders,
whatever they are.” He was very comforting,
with his suggestion that in him Sophia had a sure
support in the background.